History

Yards Brewing Company was founded in 1994 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by friends Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit who began producing their own homebrews in 1988. It is a production brewery within the city limits and the first wind-powered brewery in Pennsylvania. Currently the brewery is at 901 N. Delaware Ave where it produces 22,000 barrels a year.
 Within the first few months, "the Yards Guys" were producing one six-keg batch at a time out of their tiny 3.5-barrel brewhouse, and supplying ESA, Entire Porter, and several other cask-conditioned ales to bars clamoring for their wares. They delivered each keg themselves, making a point of being there whenever a bar tapped its first one.

After developing a loyal following, Yards eventually outgrew its first brewery, and in 1996 moved up the hill to the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. The larger brewery allowed Yards to begin bottling its beer for the first time. With a larger brewery Yards was also able to expand production of its Extra Special Ale and began introducing new beers including Philadelphia Pale Ale, which the New York Timesin 2003 rated as one of the best Pale Ales in the country. Five years before in 1999, Jon Bovit left Yards because financially he could no longer support his family. Jon was replace by new partners Bill & Nancy Barton in 1999. Yards lineup expanded to include India Pale Ale, Saison, Brawler, and other seasonal specialties.

In 2001, Yards Brewing Company moved into the old Weisbrod & Hess Brewery in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Bill Barton and his wife Nancy located the new brewery site. Vacant since 1939, Yards improved the facility and steadily increased production.

In 2003, Yards Brewing Company partnered with the City Tavern — a favorite bar of the nation's founding fathers — to create Ales of the Revolution, a line of historic beer recreations based on the original recipes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin.

In July of 2007, Tom Kehoe and Bill & Nancy Barton announced that they were dissolving their partnerships, effective August 2007. Tom Kehoe retained the Yards brand and recipes. Tom eventually moved to 901 North Delaware Avenue. This location once again increased Yard's production capabilities and expanded their product line.

In 2009 Yards was the recipient of the Penn Future Green Power Purchaser Small Business Award for becoming the first 100 percent wind powered brewery in Pennsylvania and for continued commitment to sustainability.

In 2010 Yards opened its Tasting Room, a 100 person capacity pub room which serves up a small rotating menu and features a century old pool table and shuffle board table

Brewery Facts

• Pennsylvania's first 100% wind-powered brewery.
• Bar tops are reclaimed bowling alley lanes.
• Floors made from recycled concrete and coated in SoyCrete sustainable compound.
• Block walls covered in earthen American clay.
• Hot water collected and reused whenever possible.
• All fixtures, furniture and equipment are reclaimed.
• Salvaged mahogany trim on the bar and walls.
• Century-old pool table originally manufactured a few blocks away at 222 S. 8th Street.
• Reusable growlers to reduce packaging and waste.
• Grains donated to local farms as feed.
• Yards cases are printed using 65% post-consumer recycled cardboard at a local SFI-certified manufacturer.

Products

Core Brands

• Philadelphia Pale Ale
• Extra Special Ale - ESA
• IPA
• Brawler

Ales of the Revolution

• General Washington's Tavern Porter
• Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale
• Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce

Seasonals

• Love Stout
• Saison
• Cape of Good Hope IIPA
• Old Bartholemew Barley Wine

Specialty

• Bourbon General Washington
• Bourbon Love Stout
• Bourbon Old Bart
• Bourbon Thomas Jefferson
• Trubbel de Yards
• Cerebus Triple Wet Hopped IPA
• PYNK

• Root Beer

Awards

Year	Presenter	Award	Winner
1998	Philadelphia Magazine	Best Local Beer	Yards
2000	Philadelphia City Paper	Best Use Of Oysters	Love Stout
2001	Philadelphia City Paper	Best Guys In A Tough Town	Brewery Staff
2009	Penn Future	Green Power Purchaser Small Business Award	Yards
2010	World Beer Cup	Bronze Medal in "Extra Special Bitter"	ESA

Events

Real Ale: A session focused around cask conditioned beers is offered once a year on site at the brewery. This event features a wide array of firkins of varied ales from a large selection of breweries in addition to the traditional Yards lineup and one-offs as well as food and entertainment.

• Smoke ‘Em if Yous Got ‘Em: A smoked beer and barbecue event on the brewery grounds takes place later in the year. The festival highlights smoked or rauch beers and features many other breweries as well as homebrewers.
• Real Ale: A session focused around cask conditioned beers is offered once a year on site at the brewery. This event features a wide array of firkins of varied ales from a large selection of breweries in addition to the traditional Yards lineup and one-offs as well as food and entertainment.

External links

• www.yardsbrewing.com